May 10, 2006

Contact: Gordon Ovenshine: 724-738-4854; gordon.ovenshine@sru.edu

MAY 20 OPERA RECITAL IN BUTLER A FUND-RAISER FOR SRU JUNIOR

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – In an effort to make his way to the international Opera Theatre and Music Festival in Lucca, Italy, this summer, award-winning Slippery Rock University vocal major Michael Desnoyers will sing classical and jazz selections when he offers a fund-raising recital at 3 p.m. May 20 at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Butler.

Desnoyers, of Alleghany, N.Y., will sing in Italian, French, German and English, performing with pianist Beverly Antis, choir director at the church, at 230 E. Jefferson St.

           Donations will be accepted to help fund for his participation in the June 11 to July 15  festival.  Sponsored by the University of Cincinnati, the festival gives singers five weeks of intensive training. Desnoyers qualified to participate after capturing top awards in the recent student competitions at the National Association of Teachers of Singing Regional Conference.

           At the church, Desnoyers will sing “Amarilli, mia bella” by Caccini, “La Serenata” by  Tosti, “Ständchen” by Schubert, “Après un rêve” by Fauré, “The Daisies” by Barber, “All of Me” by Simons and Marks, “All the Things You Are” by Kern and a solo version of a movement from Joe Negri's "Mass of Hope," recently performed by SRU students.

           As an SRU vocal student, Desnoyers has been a frequent soloist, including performances of “Amahl and the Night Visitors” and Mozart’s “Requiem.”

 #PN